A governorship aspirant under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Lagos State, Abiodun Oyefusi, has initiated legal proceedings against the party, alleging irregularities in the recently conducted governorship primary. She claims that she was unjustly denied victory after votes credited to her were transferred to a fellow aspirant, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour (GRV).
Allegations of Electoral Fraud
In a statement issued by her legal representatives, Platinum & Taylor Hill LP, Oyefusi asserted that she secured the majority of valid votes cast by party members during the direct primary held on May 22, 2026. However, she was later deprived of her victory through what the legal team described as a deliberate and coordinated act of electoral fraud. According to the statement, although Rhodes-Vivour allegedly finished third in the contest, the ADC declared him the winner after unlawfully removing all votes credited to Oyefusi and reallocating them to him.
No Clerical Error
The legal team emphasized that this was not a clerical mistake, computational error, or administrative oversight. It was a deliberate and coordinated act of electoral fraud designed to deny Oyefusi her rightful victory.
Secret Petition Allegations
Furthermore, the statement revealed that before the primary election, a petition was secretly filed against Oyefusi without her knowledge. She was neither served with the petition nor given an opportunity to defend herself before a screening committee that reportedly recommended her exclusion from the race.
Legal Action Taken
Oyefusi has now taken the matter to court, seeking judicial intervention to address the alleged irregularities and restore her mandate. The case is expected to shed light on the internal workings of the ADC in Lagos State and the conduct of its primary elections.
